Palakkad (Kerala) | Former CPI(M) leader P K Sasi, who quit the party ahead of the Assembly elections and later contested as a UDF-backed Independent candidate from Ottapalam, on Monday joined the CMP, a constituent of the UDF.

Transport Minister and Communist Marxist Party (CMP) leader C P John announced Sasi's entry into the party after attending a convention of the Democratic Marxist Party (DMF), which Sasi floated after leaving the Left party.

The DMF will now merge with the CMP.

Speaking to reporters here, John said Sasi, who is a former MLA, would be inducted as one of the party secretaries.

He said the CMP would formally welcome Sasi and the leaders of the DMF during its 40th foundation day celebrations in Thrissur on July 27.

"The CMP will celebrate its 40th foundation day on July 27 in Thrissur. Sasi and his colleagues will participate in the programme. The organisational matters will be decided at the party's Central Council meeting on the same day," John said.

He also said more leaders from the CPI(M) were expected to join the CMP, though no one would be persuaded to do so.

Speaking to reporters, Sasi said the CMP was the only party with which the DMF could align based on its political ideology and alliance perspective.

"Our party convention has unanimously decided to merge with the CMP. We have been invited to attend the CMP Central Council meeting on July 27 and we will participate in it," he said.

Sasi said his party rejected excessive centralisation of power and stood for complete internal democracy.

"We reject absolute centralisation, which reflects the authoritarian tendencies seen during Stalin's era and Lenin's final years. That is what is happening in the present CPI(M). We believe in complete internal democracy," he said.

Sasi said the DMF had supported the UDF during the Assembly elections and would now formally become part of the opposition alliance through its merger with the CMP.

He said he would work to strengthen both the CMP and the UDF across Kerala.

Sasi also said Independent MLA T K Govindan, who had also exited the CPI(M), attended the DMF convention held on Monday.

According to Sasi, although Govindan did not join the CMP, he had clarified his position on the issue.